After the Mets grabbed the second game of the double header, I went over to MLB.com and checked the standings.
Wow, what a dose of reality that was, talk about a slap in the face!
The Mets are a solid third in the N.L East and pretty much out of the Wild Card. It’s funny though, as I’m watching the game, I kinda forget-for just a while, exactly were this team stands in the East. A Met win will do that I suppose.
It was during the second game though, right when the Marlins were in the middle of a pitching change, that I decided to check on the other two teams I hate-the Phillies and the Yankees. Of course, they were both about to win-typical.
There’s the big reality, while the Mets are stepping on the throat of a last place team, the Phillies and the Yankees are just cruising to the playoffs. In about 15 days I have to watch (or yet ignore) their locker room celebrations.
God how I hate September.
A bigger reality check to say the least.
During last night’s post game, I began to think about the Mets and their future-also the last month of the season.
It’s time to put a perspective on that.
As another meaningless September approaches for the Mets, as far as playoffs are concerned, perhaps there is a silver lining. Perhaps there is more meaningful September baseball for Met fans than we think, it’s just not what we want.
So instead of champagne being dumped on the players, we’re going to have to settle for the consolation prize.
.500? No to hell with .500.
I’ve created a list. A “wish list” of things I’d rather see than the Mets finishing .500.
I know, how pathetic. The Phillies fans are already buying playoff tickets and I’m “wishing” for 11 things to make September bearable.
But honestly, yea it would be great to finish out the year with a winning season but in the long run, does it really matter? It might by symbolic to ownership that the team is headed in the right direction and maybe a little feather in the cap of Alderson and Collins, but I’d sacrifice it any day for a brighter future.
So for better or worse, here it is. 11 things I’d rather see than a .500 record.
1. Bobby Parnell becomes a legit closer.
2. Lucus Duda develops into a slugger.
3. Rubin Tejada rounds into form for a possible replacement for Reyes.
4. Reyes wins the MVP and signs a contract with the Mets for 3 years.
5. Niese, Pelfrey and Gee have solid outings for September.
6. Thole proves he could catch everyday.
7. Pagan plays up to his potential.
8. Wright finishes strong.
9. Turner proves he could stay on the team as a possible second basemen or bench player.
10. Santana throws in the 90′s in a relief outing.
11. Terry Collins wins the Coach of the Year Award.
Now I know what your thinking. Maybe, just maybe we get 4 out of the 11 wishes. But let’s look at next year for a moment. If this team is going to compete, they need at least 4-5 wishes to come to fruition-correct?
I mean, I would love to see 11 out of 11 but that’s never going to happen.
The point is, since Sandy Alderson is building a team for the future, that’s what I’m looking for when I watch these games.
Not .500.
That’s like a consolation prize-it’s meaningless unless there is something to build on.
And that’s what I want to see, something to build on-to get me through those cold months all winter.
7 comments
Anonymous
8/30/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
I can’t see where Reyes wins and MVP and then signs a 3 year deal. I would think MVP would equate to 5+ year deal.
TC is not winning coach of the year. You don’t normally win when you have a worse record than you did the previous year.
And, I say this with no malice, but Turner is proving he is not an everyday player. He’ll prove to be the bench guy backing up Tejada & Havens/Murphy, assuming Reyes is gone and Tejada is your everyday SS. If Reyes signs, you’ll have Murphy/Tejada with Havens knocking on the door, and if that is the case, he’ll maybe only be a bench guy while Havens is still in the minors. Nice kid, wears his hat crooked, had a nice little hot period, but overall, he’s proving that he’s OK but not everyday player and possibly not even a bench guy. (now realize, this is actually a good problem, as that will me there are multiple legitimate options on this team (Murphy, Tejada, ideally Havens…) so it’s nice to see the kids playing well).
So, of the 5 of 11 wishes I think can come true… (and I think 5 & 6 are the biggest stretches).
2. Lucus Duda develops into a slugger.
3. Rubin Tejada rounds into form for a possible replacement for Reyes.
5. Niese, Pelfrey and Gee have solid outings for September.
6. Thole proves he could catch everyday.
8. Wright finishes strong.
Anonymous
8/30/2011-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, it is symbolic, but good symbols are nice to have every once in a while!
Turner? Agreed he is going to be a nice bench utility guy. I still am pulling for Havens to grab the 2B job and become the next Utley type 2B.
Of the other items, #2 (Duda), well that is of course a slam dunk lock. And may have happened already!
Not really thinking there will be a lot of other rookies/prospects coming up to show anything. They are already here. Other than Havens, but I don’t think he is coming up in September.
What happens with Reyes (in September, such as health and winning the Mets 1st batting title), and of course beyond, is the story that to me pretty much overrides everything else.
Could Tejada really be the starting SS next year? Hard to fathom. But who knows.
rustyjr
8/30/2011-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Yes it does ! It’s a barometer of the progress this team is making
Anonymous
8/30/2011-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
While I strive to find tidbits of interest in another sub .500 performance being turned in, one of the items that came to light in lieu of Capuano’s performance was Capuano’s admission that he’s been overanalyzing and not wanting to throw what Thole was calling until his last 2 hitter performance. Got me to thinking (always dangerous), to what degree have the Pitchers not been listening to Thole since he’s a young catcher and what degree of frustration Josh has been bearing that may have seeped into other parts of his game. While I don’t expect Josh to become Johnny Bench or anything it would be nice to see how the Pitchers do if they execute what Josh is asking for. If Josh is in the lineup today then with Pelf pitching it could be a good test since they’ve had trouble getting together in the past and the fish historically rake against Pelf. I’ll be looking for shake off’s in today’s tilt for my minor tidbit of interest today.
Ceetar
8/30/2011-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
If those things happen, even some of them, the Mets will finish at .500. It’s basically the same thing.
Anonymous
8/30/2011-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
the final record this season is meaningless to me but it might mean something for the confidence of the very many young players competing for spots.
among those young players, Duda, Evans, Thole and Tejada are all playing like that want big league jobs next season.
my hope for the remainder of this season regarding Parnell is that Collins or Alderson — whichever is calling the shots — comes to the realization that Parnell is not a closer of the future or anything more than an arm in the middle of the pen.
Acosta is another guy playing like he wants a big league job.
I agree with those who say Turner is not an everyday player. I said such a month ago and was reminded by TRS that he had just played well for a few weeks. But we see with guys like Turner and Pagan that the season is not a matter of good weeks or months. It’s a 6 month marathon.
MetsFan4Decades
8/30/2011-6:23pm at 6:23 pm (UTC -4)
Agree with the few here who feel all 11 ‘goals’ will certainly not come true.
Case in point with Reyes. Even if he doesn’t win MVP (long shot at best), there is no way he’s signing a 3 year contract here – or anywhere else. I’m thinking at least 6 years, no matter where he winds up.
- I like Turner but just don’t see him as the Mets every day 2nd baseman for years to come.
- Tejada might wind up at SS next year, but he’s certainly no replacement for Jose. Besides, after watching all of the games this year, I’m of the opinion that Tejada plays a better 2nd base than SS.
- I think Pagan is what he is at this point. Same with Pelfrey and possibly Gee. Niese is still see tapping into unrealized potential yet.
- Wright not going through these streaky ups and downs would certainly make my day.
- Duda looking good at the plate. Haven’t seen enough of him in RF yet to make me feel comfortable he can not be a liability out there. Evans showing his offense potential getting the chance to play every day as well.
The biggest improvement we could make is with subtraction – as in making Bay disappear. Too bad that’s highly unlikely.